Beyond the bell

Part of what makes Loyola a fun and engaging place for our Dons is the variety of co-curricular opportunities in the midst of a school culture that encourages everyone to “get involved!”

Whether writing for the Literary Magazine, performing standup comedy, planting trees in the community, or playing flag football with friends, Loyola offers a variety of extracurricular clubs and activities to keep our Dons entertained and enriched long after the last bell rings.

List of 54 items.

The club meets once a month to showcase the music members have produced on computer programs. The club is open to all students interested in showcasing their talents and skills. The best tracks will be featured on the club SoundCloud page. Interested students may contact James Ugarte at jroonugarte@gmail.com, or Benji Rohd at bmrohd@gmail.com

The American Politics Club at Loyola Blakefield commits to the First Amendment right to free speech by fostering constructive discourse between varying political viewpoints. Whether Republican, Democrat, Independent, or non-affiliated, our members are Dons who eschew violence, and engage in consequential and politically-charged discussions in search of practical solutions to complex societal ills. The club will meet Thursdays from 3:05 – 4 p.m. in Burk 118. Interested Upper School students can contact Mr. Plunkett at bplunkett@loyolablakefield.org or stop by Xavier Hall.

Art for Others is a service club with the mission to bring art and companionship to those in our community who would benefit from engaging in creative projects with Loyola students. Students meet on a regular basis to plan activities in preparation for visits to areas such as nursing homes and low-income after school programs. Students follow these visits up with discussions to evaluate their level of success and how they can reach out more effectively in the future. The common denominator from all visits has not been the need to produce works of art, but the importance of companionship for those less fortunate. This club is open to all students, not just artists, who have the desire to help others. This club is open to both middle and upper school students. Interested students can contact Mrs. Petr at vpetr@loyolablakefield.org.

The club will involve various “tailgating” sports, including, but not limited to, cornhole, Kan-Jam, and Spikeball. The field to the left of Sheridan Hall and right of the road will serve as the meeting place, but in case of inclement weather or cold, the club could be held in the Wheeler Lounge or another suitable area. The club is moderated by Ms. Sarah Biron.

Best Buddies is the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending social, physical, and economic isolation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD.) The programs help people with IDD form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communication skills, and feel valued by society. Loyola Blakefield’s Best Buddies chapter is open to students in grades 9-12, and the goal is to promote one-to-one friendships with those with IDD as well as create an inclusive school environment. Our Dons offer social mentoring while improving the quality of life and level of inclusion for their peers who are often isolated and excluded. We partner with The Forbush School in Hunt Valley, and club involvement includes trips off campus various times throughout the year as well as individual outings with their buddies. Interested students may contact Mrs. Pru Tucker ptucker@loyolablakefield.org or Mrs. Chantal Cross ccross@loyolablakefield.org.

The mission of the Loyola Blakefield BSU is to provide a resource for Loyola Blakefield students to achieve academic and social assimilation in conjunction with ethnic appreciation. In a manner consistent with Catholic teaching, students come to understand the enriching and liberating value of human variety, to embrace diversity and to cherish human differences. Interested students can contact Mr. Bowers at bbowers@loyolablakefield.org.

Bocce ball is a relaxed but strategic game with an ancient lineage. Although probably emerging from ancient Egypt, bocce started to hit its stride with the Romans and Emperor Augustus. It gained massive popularity thanks among the Italian communities at the turn of the 20th century.

At Loyola, bocce is a calming, competitive way to spend some time outdoors (and indoors), in the pleasant company of friends. Whether you are an expert player or not, you can easily learn how to play, and ultimately the secret of bocce's success is that all players have fun! Students in all grades are welcome to attend. Interested students can contact Dr. Barbera at rbarbera@loyolablakefield.org.

The club meets about four or five times a year. To be in this club you need only two things: 1. Read the scheduled book and 2. Attend the book discussion which will be held after school on a specific date. There are no weekly meetings, and if you read one book, there’s no obligation to read the next. Interested Upper School students with questions may contact Mr. Edward Brown at ebrown@loyolablakefield.org.

The Boosters are dedicated toward increasing Loyola Spirit. Boosters meetings are generally on Wednesday after school on the Knott balcony above the dining hall. All students are welcome. Boosters work throughout the year to promote student events and activities. One key responsibility of the Boosters is running the Turkey Bowl Pep Rally each year. The club is moderated by Mr. Pat Muth. Interested students may contact Mr. Muth at pmuth@loyolablakefield.org.

Amongst the many activities run by this club is a portfolio competition aimed at giving students insight into the workings of the stock market. The club will meet to analyze portfolios created by the students. Furthermore, a discussion will take place on why the market changed; whether it be from speculations or new data on economic indicators, all things macroeconomics and microeconomics will be taken into account. Educational programs such as “Shark Tank” and “The Profit” will occasionally be played for educational purposes. The objectives of the club are to increase interest in business and investing among Loyola Blakefield students and to provide a comprehensive understanding of how financial markets work. Interested students may contact Mr. Prieto at iprietoalonso@LoyolaBlakefield.org.

The Loyola Blakefield Chess Club meets most Fridays in the Library. Members play games of chess and discuss strategies. If you are interested in joining, please see Ms. Darr in the Library. We always welcome new members. Interested Middle and Upper school students can contact Ms. Terry Darr at tdarr@loyolablakefield.org.

Loyola Climbing Club meets weekly throughout the year at Earthtreks climbing center in Timonium and Hampden. The club is open to middle school and upper school students. Bouldering and top-roping are the main disciplines focused on to ensure a life-long interest in an extremely active sport. Interested students can contact Mr. Glorioso at jglorioso@loyolablakefield.org or Mr. Keeney at mkeeneyii@LoyolaBlakefield.org.

The Loyola Blakefield Culinary Club has been active since 2003. During our meetings we take a hands-on approach to learn how to prepare food through different techniques and through the study of regional and cultural traditions. Working out of the Knott Dining Hall kitchen, we try to make new and interesting foods. Throughout the year we have meetings that include special ingredient meals, Iron Chef competitions, faculty guest chefs, culturally themed dishes, and after school fieldtrips to local restaurants. In addition, we utilize our culinary talents to help our school and community. This past year we made bagged lunches for local shelters and made baked goods for the Mother's Club functions. To improve your cooking skills, come out and join the Culinary Club! (Besides, we get to eat a lot of food). Interested Upper School students can contact Ms. Warfield at ewarfield@loyolablakefield.org.

Founded in fall 2012, the club focuses on providing an environment where students can learn about the vast field of cyber security. Through hands-on experience and guest speakers, students are exposed to a variety of topics and develop the ability to identify and correct common security threats on their home PCs and mobile devices. The club also participates in competitions year round ranging from local to worldwide. This club is open to students grades 8-12. Interested students can contact Mr. Morrill at smorrill@loyolablakefield.org.

Welcome to Loyola Blakefield’s first Drone Club, in this club we will learn the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) Rules and Regulations, Drone Owners Required Safety Rules, The Anatomy of a Drone, Fun Facts and Drone Web Sites, Build a Mini Drone, Racing Course and Most Important, Having Fun Flying our Drones! The Drone Club will meet every other Wednesday in the field between Knott Hall and Xavier Hall. All are welcome. Interested students may contact Mr. Benway at kbenway@loyolablakrfield.org

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is a tabletop fantasy role playing game (RPG) in which players create characters and embark on adventures across fictional worlds to battle otherworldly creatures. The goal is to have a fun time journeying through adventures created by other students, while coordinating and planning as a team. The club meets every Thursday at 3:05 p.m. in W105 and is open to all students and all skill levels.

Loyola Film Club meets weekly throughout the year to create films for both fun and for the Loyola community. The club is open to both middle and upper school students with no previous experience being required. Interested students can contact Mr. Ziegler at bziegler@loyolablakefield.org.

Loyola’s championship speech and debate team, also called forensics, offers Dons a chance to compete for Loyola with their voices and their minds. Our higher goal is to help all team members build the kinds of leadership and communication skills which will serve them not only in school, but as they move beyond into whatever area they may pursue. Coaches and veterans work carefully with team members to develop their skills in a wide assortment of categories, and tournaments provide the opportunity to compete on a local, regional, or national level. Interested Upper School students can contact Mr. Charles Donovan at cdonovan@loyolablakefield.org. For more information go to: http://www.loyolablakefield.org/Page/Arts/Speech--Debate.

Frazzleerham was invented by Barry Morley at Sandy Spring Friends School in Sandy Spring, Maryland sometime in the 1960s. The Loyola Blakefield Latin Club under the careful and conscientious guidance of Mr. Leo Behrendt brought the game to Blakefield in the Fall of 2004. Since then it has become a staple of Hollow activity and has been incorporated into the Freshman Orientation Program.

The rules of the game are designed to provide players with a thorough workout while not favoring competitors who might excel in any particular sport. Players move a ball by throwing, bouncing, heading, and under certain circumstances punting; however, players may not run with the ball. The object is for one team to bounce the ball into a bucket that is held by one of their teammates, “the Snapper,” who is confined to a small square enclosure called the “Rham.” Each team has their own. Tackling is sometimes permitted but it is not an essential feature of the game. The field of play has no boundaries, and the time limit and required score can be adjusted to the will and constraints of the group.

The Frazzleerham Club to meets regularly on Thursdays at 3:10PM in the Hollow, weather permitting and is open to all grades. Check the announcements for more information. No experience or commitment is required. Come out and play whenever you can. Interested students can contact Mr. Bromwell at rbromwell@loyolablakefield.org.

Gearheads is a club dedicated to vehicles of all kinds: classic, exotic, and rare cars as well as trucks, SUVs, and motorcycles. During weekly meetings, we learn about cars, build vehicles and engines, get other hands-on experience, or simply talk about cars. Throughout the year, we take trips to auto shops, car shows, or any other outing related to cars and trucks. Interested middle or upper school students can contact Mr. Jenkins at jjenkins@loyolablakefield.org.

Hispanic Student Union seeks to unify Hispanic students in our school and we also want to be linked with other Hispanic clubs from different schools and Universities in the Baltimore area. We will be learning throughout art, poetry, literature, cinema, and food, about the traditions and cultures from the Spanish speaking world. Bienvenidos. Interested middle or upper school students can contact Mr. Bahamon at cbahamon@loyolablakefield.org.

Each year, Loyola Blakefield sends a delegation of students to attend the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice. It is an annual gathering for members of the Ignatian family (Jesuit institutions and larger church) to gather in the context of social justice and solidarity to learn, reflect, pray, network, and advocate together, recognizing the integral link of faith and justice. Students meet every other week leading up to the Teach-In to learn about pertinent topics, and plan a Candlelight Vigil for Justice. The event is open to upper school students. Interested students can contact Mrs. Szczepaniak at bszczepaniak@loyolablakefield.org or Mr. White at jwhite@loyolablakefield.org.

Our popular intramural athletics program gives you the ideal environment in which to compete and learn what it means to be a true leader and teammate. Current intramural sports offered include: Flag Football, Dodgeball, and Indoor Soccer. Please see Althletics for more information. This program is open to Upper School students. Interested students can contact Mr. Lankford at blankford@loyolablakefield.org.

The Loyola Blakefield Investment League exists to give students an opportunity to trade $100,000 of fantasy money until March. The League believes that everyone should have some financial literacy before graduating High School, and this is a great way to gain some experience with nothing at stake. The Investment League co-presidents are Tim Palmeri and Liam Bateman and is moderated by Mrs. Gayle Smith. Interested students should contact Mrs. Smith at gsmith@loyolablakefield.org.

It's Academic Club attends academic trivia bowls and competes against other schools in the area in a format similar to the game show Jeopardy. Competitions are held year-round on the weekends. The club meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Interested Upper School students can contact Mr. George Watson gwatson@loyolablakefield.org.

The Italian Club provides opportunities for students to come together in a relaxed atmosphere and learn about about of Italian culture. Interested Middle or Upper School students may contact Dr. Barbera at rbarbera@loyolablakefield.org.

This is a national organization dedicated to having fun while appreciating and promoting the languages and cultures of Ancient Greece and Rome. We occasionally go to competitions and on field trips, both of which are optional. Interested Middle and Upper School students can contact Mrs. Wise at ewise@loyolablakefield.org.

Part of the mission of Loyola is to encourage students to be religious, loving, open to growth, and dedicated to work for a just world. The goal of the Liturgical Ensemble is to provide the Loyola Blakefield community with music that is meaningful, joyful, and spirit-filled at the Masses and prayer services. Rehearsals are held regularly, and all those with experience playing an instrument and/or singing are welcome to participate. Interested students should contact Dr. Skirpan rskirpan@loyolablakefield.org.

The purpose of the Philanthropy Club is for Dons to help other Dons in need. The group will work to raise funds for items such as lunch accounts, ring purchases, tuzedo rentals, prom tickets, and basic necessities to help our Dons. This newly designed program- Dons Giving to Dons- will also be extended to Don families that are in need of assistance. All assistance will be done in confidence. Interested students can contact Mr. Plunkett at bplunkett@loyolablakefield.org.

Magic: The Gathering is a fantasy roleplaying card game. Players meet once a week to engage in casual play, to work on deckbuilding skills, and to occasionally compete in special tournament events. New players are always welcome. Upper and middle school students welcome. Contact Mr. Bailey at bbailey@loyolablakefield.org with questions.

Math Club strives to put a spin on the old way of learning math. Teams compete against each other in categories ranging from Pre-Algebra to Calculus and rack up points to beat the opposing teams. But most importantly of all, we have fun! Interested Upper School students can contact Ms. Warfield at ewarfield@loyolablakefield.org.

The Model United Nations club meets weekly to prepare its members to participate in the JHUMUNC conference run by Johns Hopkins University. This conference has over 4000 participants from high-schools and academies across the United States and around the globe. Students are tasked with representing various countries in plenary sessions of the UN’s General Assembly or Economic and Social Committees. In the past the Loyola Delegation has represented Ethiopia, Tanzanzia, Nigeria, Nicaragua, The Democratic Republic of Korea, Cote d’Ivoire. Loyola students represent a country in various UN committees. During club meetings, students research how to best represent their country and with whom they can strategically ally at the conference.

The Loyola Blakefield Bike Club serves to unite all of our Dons in outdoor exploration of local trail systems and current environmental issues. The club meets in the Fall and Spring either to ride, conduct bike maintenance, watch educational and entertainment videos as well as participate in local trail work days and cleanups. The club also hosts weekend rides at various trail systems in the surrounding areas. Participation is open to all grades and levels of experience. The club is open to grades 6-12. Interested students should contact Mr. Jeff Glorioso jglorioso@loyolablakefield.org or Mr. Mike Keeney mkeeneyii@loyolablakefield.org.

Origami is an ancestral Japanese art that after many centuries is still considered an important element in education. Since the 20th century, origami has become popular throughout the world because it is beautiful and the only material needed is paper. With paper, a little patience, and concentration you can get amazing works of art. Dragons, unicorns, elephants, horses, flowers, and hundreds of paper figures are waiting for you. This club is open to middle and upper school students. Interested students with questions should contact Mr. Bahamon.

The Patriots' Club of Loyola Blakefield strives to promote a sense of patriotism and respect for the United States Military amongst members of the Loyola Blakefield Community. The Patriots' Club also serves as a way for Dons to socialize with one another who share in their passion and respect of the United States Military. Loyola Patriots' Club meetings educate members using a variety of ways, notably guest speakers and historically relevant military movies. Above all, the Patriots' Club serves as an opportunity for the community to give back and honor those brave individuals involved in The United States Military. Charity drives have also been organized to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project. Interested Middle and Upper School students can contact Mrs. Breschi at kbreschi@loyolablakefield.org.

The Ping Pong club meets weekly. This Olympic Sport is a fun and competitive sport for all Dons. The club is open to all students grades 6-12. Interested students should contact the President, Mac Wooley, or the club moderator, Dr. Donovan.

In this exciting new club, students will learn how to design, build and launch model rockets as well as how to use and maintain remote control vehicles. The club meets on Wednesdays in Sheridan 8 and all students are welcome. Interested Middle and Upper School students can contact Mr. Schott at aschott@loyolablakefield.org.

The Robotics Club is made up of a group of students who come together to design, build, program and test creative solutions to a wide variety of challenges in the technology, engineering and mathematics fields. The students develop robots to perform specific tasks in which they must complete at competitions to score points for their team. Students meet after school to test and practice with their robots in preparing for weekend competitions. Robotics teaches students how to think on their feet and problem solve through trial and error effectively. This club is open to students in grades 8-12. Interested students can contact Mrs. Pearson at jpearson@loyolablakefield.org.

This club is open to any student at Loyola Blakefield who enjoys playing music. No experience is necessary. Bring your instrument. Interested Upper School Students can contact Mr. Flanigan at sflanigan@loyolablakefield.org.

The Senior Board plans social activities for the upperclassmen. These activities include dances, music nights, and athletic events. The events sometimes serve as fundraisers towards charities. Interested Seniors can contact Mrs. Breschi at kbreschi@loyolablakefield.org.

This committee, open to middle school and high school students, plans and coordinates monthly service projects in our local Baltimore community. These service projects occur after school and on weekends and are open to all students and faculty members. The group meets on Mondays in the Ignatian Service office. Interested students can contact Mrs. Szczepaniak.

This club meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00pm-3:45pm in Wheeler 110. It is open to both Middle and Upper School students. This club is simply an opportunity to read quietly two days a week. You may read anything you want- homework assignments, Book Club books, pleasure books, magazines. The only rules for the club are as follows: You are reading when you attend; you may not do other homework like math or science; and there is no talking. You can attend as much or as little as you want. This is simly an opportunity to be around other people who are reading, often a good incentive to read yourself. Interested students with questions may contact Mr. Edward Brown at ebrown@loyolablakefield.org.

The ski club sponsors 6 ski trips on Fridays beginning in January to Ski Liberty, Ski Roundtop, or Ski Whitetail. The trips leave Loyola at 3:15pm via coach busses and return at 10:30pm. The Ski Club is open to all Loyola Upper And Middle School students. Registration opens on October 13, 2018 at 8:00am. Details and registration will be located on Loyola Blakefield's website under Campus Life- Blakefield Experience. The club is moderated by Mr. Glorioso and Mr. Keeney II. Interested students may contact them at jglorioso@loyolablakefield.org or mkeeneyii@loyolablakefield.org.

The Spanish Club is meant to give all high school students, particularly those who study Spanish, a chance to learn more about Hispanic culture and heritage. For those members who are in advanced Spanish classes, the club offers a forum for practicing their language skills in a relaxed environment. Interested students can contact Mr. Jenkins jjenkins@loyolablakfield.org or Mr. Ranalli dranalli@loyolablakefield.org.

The Sports Broadcasting Club produces live broadcasts of select Loyola athletic events. The club is always looking for student commentators, camera operators, producers, graphic designers, and sports writers. The club is open to students in grades 9–12. If you are interested in getting involved with our live broadcasting efforts, please contact Mr. Nitti. Meetings are held every Tuesday at 3:05 p.m. in Burk 114.

The Loyola Sportsmen’s Association provides students the opportunity to share their outdoor experiences with others who have similar interests. Club activities include freshwater fishing, Chesapeake Bay striped bass fishing, sporting clays, an annual trip to the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, PA, and semi-annual fish and wild game dinners with the Loyola Culinary Club. In the past, the club has also raised money to support outdoor adventures for serious ill youth. Interested Middle or Upper School students can contact Mr. Katchko at jkatchko@loyolablakefield.org.

Loyola's Middle School Squash Club meets twice a week in the evenings beginning in November 2019 for practices and plays a few matches in the afternoons after the school day. The club is open to students in grades 6-8. Interested students should contact Coach Joe Lacy at joe@lacyfoundries.com.

Student Ambassadors are 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students who serve the Office of Admissions and the school community to welcome prospective families and visitors to Blakefield. Members act as campus tour guides and participate in Admission events including area high school fairs, Discovery Days, and Open House by sharing their perspectives of student life. Interested students may contact Mr. Abrams at sabrams@loyolablakefield.org.

Loyola's Student Government Association consists of student leaders who are elected by their peers to provide further oversight and student involvement of major events on Loyola’s campus. SGA members provide a link between the administration and the student body and serve as examples for their peers and underclassmen. Furthermore, the Student Government at Loyola Blakefield is responsible for engaging the Blakefield Community for important events like the Blood Drive, the Fall Food Drive and the Turkey Bowl Pep Rally. Interested students can contact Mrs. Courtney at ecourtney@loyolablakefield.org or Mr. Schlichtig.

The Super Smash Brothers Club meets once a week to play the most recent installment in the “Super Smash Brothers” video game franchise. Currently, we are playing “Super Smash Brothers Ultimate” for the Nintendo Switch. This club is made of players with all levels of experience with the game. This club is open to grades 6-12. The club is moderated by Mrs. Cross. Interested students with questions should contact her at ccross@loyolablakefield.org.

Loyola’s Ultimate Frisbee Club provides students a weekly opportunity to participate in this fast-paced, competitive game. Upper classmen who do not play a spring sport and/or who simply want to get some exercise are encouraged to participate. In year’s past Loyola’s Ultimate Team has played home and away games against rival Calvert Hall, and we are currently seeking other area schools with which to compete.

The yearbook club is responsible for the design, composition, editing and publication of the Loyola yearbook. For over 160 years, the Loyola yearbook has been documenting the Dons of Loyola Blakefield and chronicling the changes that have occurred within Loyola’s community. Students meet twice a week to design layouts, compose copy, select photographs and edit proofs. They work diligently to capture the most important parts of everyday life here at Loyola and create an historical document revealing what makes Loyola such a special place each year. This club is open to Middle and Upper School students. Interested students can contact Mr. Bailey at bbailey@loyolablakefield.org.

The Young Movie Critics Club (YMCC) takes a deeper look at films across diverse genres to encourage light-hearted civil discourse among members. We will meet weekly to watch movies, read relevant texts/articles, and explore our interpretations and experiences of the films. Example genres include comedy, drama, action, family, horror, and science fiction. Our goal is to spark meaningful discussions on a variety of topics to learn new ideas and obtain different perspective to help us to be better men for others. The club meets on Thursdays after school and is moderated by Mr. LaBella.